Bangladesh-based ULFA nabbed, 24, 000 fake notes seized

Shillong, Nov 26 (UNI) A Bangladesh-based United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militant was arrested in Meghalaya and counterfeit currency notes worth Rs 24,000 were seized from his possession by security forces, police said today.

Police said the Bangladeshi national -Torin R Marak- was caught by the police on Saturday after intelligence agencies tracked Marak's movements and activities in Tikrikilla area of West Garo district, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Western Range) F D Sangma said.

According to intelligence reports, the accused had sneaked into India from Bangladesh recently to palm off counterfeit currency notes in the denomination of Rs 1000 to a Garo Hills-based ULFA leader.

Preliminary investigations said the Bangladeshi national maintained 'close-links' with the ULFA leaders based in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh, Mr Sangma told UNI here.

''The army authorities have just handed over the accused to us, we will have to interrogate him to unearth his activities in Garo Hills,'' the police official said.

''They (ULFA) have been indulging in these activities with the help of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI),'' intelligence sources said.

Sources said the Meghalaya's Indo-Bangla border has become a convenient route for ther ULFA and Pakistan's ISI agents to smuggle in fake notes from Bangladesh taking advantage of the Garo tribesmen residing in Bangladesh and Garo Hills.

''The ULFA normally uses such conduits to supply counterfeit currency notes mainly due to the tribal appearance,'' the sources said.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya police have registered a case under section 489-B, which deals with all counterfeit currency notes, Foreigner Act and Passport Act against the ULFA's ''linkman''.